NBA Scouts and Execs Targeting an Unexpected College Hoops Team This Season
California hasn't exactly been an NBA factory or annual scouting stop for general managers. Its only first-round product over the last 18 years: Ryan Anderson, the 21st pick of the 2008 draft.
But after the 2015-16 season, chances are Anderson (and Jason Kidd) won't be the only Golden Bear with a featured NBA gig.
The Bears roster suddenly has a number of flashy names, after coach Cuonzo Martin was able to reel in a pair of big fish during recruiting over the summer. Meanwhile, the table is set for senior point guard Tyrone Wallace, who was recently named to the First Team All-Pac-12.
Regardless of whether it all translates to wins, there isn't any denying the individual talent. And there should be enough of it to make California worth flying to for NBA scouts and executives—no matter where they're projected to pick in the draft.
Jaylen Brown
Those gunning for a top-five selection should have their sights set on freshman Jaylen Brown. A 5-star prospect from Georgia, Brown has the appearance and skill set of two-way NBA wing—a player type that's risen in value over the years.
Lately, it's become difficult to find upside at the small forward and shooting guard positions. Nearly half the league could use an upgrade on the wing, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers—teams that seem destined to find the early 2016 lottery.
Brown ultimately has a little Jimmy Butler and Stanley Johnson in his game. He aces the eye test with 6'7", 222-pound size, a 7'0½" wingspan and effortless athleticism. You get the impression he'd hold his own in a pro game tomorrow.
A terror in the open floor, Brown has also flashed an encouraging one-on-one attack that drives valuable go-to scoring potential. Pro teams should ultimately benefit from having the chance to scout him in a role where he's the No. 1 option.
Ivan Rabb
While Brown alone should attract visits from general managers invested in next June's draft, the other name expected to draw significant NBA attention is freshmen Ivan Rabb—a 6'10" big man with an eye-opening blend of quickness, leaping ability and coordination.
Rabb isn't as polished as Brown, but his physical tools and athleticism fuel upside worth coveting.
He'll certainly be the tougher of the two newcomers to evaluate. Rabb's usage rate won't be overly high in a lineup alongside Wallace (31.2 percent in 2014-15, per Sports-Reference.com) and Brown. Plus, he isn't quite sharp enough offensively (right now) to command the ball in the post.
However, under the NBA lens, Rabb excels in areas of the game you just can't coach. He'll immediately approach double-doubles without refined post moves or ball skills. He uses a first step to blow by bigs with one-dribble drives into layups or dunks. And he taps into his bounce, sticky hands and interior instincts to finish and rebound.
On the other hand, he's flashed promise in areas that reflect room for growth. Scouts will ultimately be watching to determine just how much room (upside) there actually is, as well as the likelihood he'll do something with it.
Tyrone Wallace
Wallace, the Bears' veteran floor general, will also give NBA teams something to think about. He offers that always-desirable mismatch size (6'6" height, 6'9½ length") for a ball-handler. And averages of 17.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and four assists reflect obvious talent. But a 48.4 percent true shooting percentage and a negative pure point rating, per RealGM.com, also raise legitimate concern.
The glass-half-full perspective suggests that Wallace's inefficiency last year was a result of a giant workload and little support as the focus of every opposing defense.
"Now he doesn’t have to carry such a load offensively, and that was really a need for us,” coach Martin told NBC Sports' Raphielle Johnson. “We need him to score in situations and force the action, but now he doesn’t have to do that as much."
Wallace finally has weapons, from Brown and Rabb to returning shot-makers Jordan Mathews and Jabari Bird. Forced to hunt for 14.8 shots a game in 2013-14, Wallace can now wait for better looks and concentrate on building his credibility as a shooter and facilitator.
He couldn't ask for a better setting to maximize his stock. And given last year's impressive numbers, the appeal to his physical tools and the high-profile unit he'll be running, Wallace has naturally emerged as a must-watch prospect.
He'll be looking to follow the footsteps of Shabazz Napier, Jerian Grant and Delon Wright—recent senior point guards who've sold themselves as safe-bet backups in the late first round.
Even Bird, the 6'6" junior 2-guard, could draw some NBA consideration. A former McDonald's All-American, Bird caught fire over the Bears' final eight games last February and March, when he sunk 15-of-30 treys and averaged 13.2 points.
This Bears squad should ultimately lead to a lot less sleep for scouts on the East Coast. Whether it's lottery teams looking for a franchise cornerstone, playoff teams searching for depth or both scouting for second-round sleepers, NBA representatives from across the league should be making routine trips out to California in 2015-16.
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